UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's lacrosse carries its program record 10-game winning streak into Rochester, NY for a matchup with St. John Fisher University. Start time is set for 1 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend can keep up with live video and/or stats through https://sjfathletics.com/sidearmstats/wlax/summary. 
 
Last Time Out: For the first time in program history, the Utica University women's lacrosse team came out victorious over the Nazareth University Golden Flyers thanks to a 13-10 win on April 6. The win also extends the team's winning streak to 10 straight games. Samantha DeCondo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) led the team with four goals on seven looks on net while Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) also registered a hat-trick with three scores. Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Daniela Muscari (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook) had two goals apiece while Kerry Carr (New Hartford, NY/Manhattanville College) and Alyssa Drell (Mastic, NY/William Floyd) rounded out the scoring with one each. Carr, DeCondo, and Drell each had one assist as well. In goal, Makayla Purdy (Shirley, NY/William Floyd) picked up the win as she made 10 saves with 10 goals allowed along with a team-high four ground balls. As a team, the Pioneers out-shot the Golden Flyers 35-26 including 26-20 on goal. Utica controlled draws, 14-12, and cleared 16 of 20 attempts. Nazareth jumped out to a 1-0 lead 50 seconds into the game on a Julia Dietz free-position goal. Just over a minute later, Pisano evened the game to help set up Grace Stuhlman's (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) go-ahead goal at 8:52 of the first as the game eventually moved into the second quarter with the Pioneers ahead, 2-1. The Golden Flyers responded back by notching three of the first four goals in the new quarter and would hold a one-goal edge until just under five minutes to play in the half. That's when Utica started its run of five unanswered goals. DeCondo started the scoring spree with her first of the game at 4:56 in the second while Pisano came back with the go-ahead score at 4:41. Then with 46 seconds left, Muscari sent the team into the break with a 6-4 lead-off the back of her second goal of the quarter. Then in the third, DeCondo registered her second at the 11:32 mark before Drell buried a free position shot to put the team up 8-4. In the third, Purdy denied each of Nazareth's four shots on goal to keep them off the board and help the Pioneers build a four-goal cushion with 15 minutes to play. The fourth quarter was the highest-scoring 15-minute stretch by far with the teams combining for 11 goals. Nazareth got back on the board for its first time in roughly 25 minutes of game time at 13:25 of the fourth while Pisano answered right back with 11:44 to play. The sides exchanged goals yet again at 10:21 (Kate Metler) and DeCondo (man-up at 9:55) as the Pioneers remained in command. Nazareth began to make a late push with scores at 6:17 and 4:56 to cut its deficit to two. However, Utica rattled off three goals in a row with the first off the stick of Carr and the following pair scored by Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro). The Golden Flyers scored twice with under a minute to play but the Pioneers' lead was insurmountable for the hosts as Utica walked away with the 13-10 victory. 
 
Where We Stand: Utica sits tied for first in Empire 8 standings with St. John Fisher with a 2-0 start to conference play. Saturday's matchup vs Fisher would give Utica sole possession of first place and put them in the driver's seat of the conference standings. Prior to this season, Utica's top finish in Empire 8 regular season standings was second, back in 2019. The Pioneers currently lead the conference in margin of victory with an incredible 9.5 mark. They also pace all Empire 8 teams in goals on the season with 184. St. John Fisher is the closest to this mark with 115. The team sits amongst the top 30 in many national categories as well, ranking 15th in scoring margin (8.33), 16th in winning percentage (.833), 17th in scoring defense (7.5), 21st in draw control percentage (.602), and 29th in goals per game (15.83).
 
Purdy Good: Freshman goalie, Makayla Purdy (Shirley, NY/William Floyd) has stepped right in and played very solid in her first season with the team. She ranks third in the Empire 8 in goals allowed per game at 7.54 and save percentage at .485. Purdy has also been the recipient of the Empire 8 Goalie of the week award four times this season, the most in a season for Utica since Hali Vandermeulen was a five-time recipient in 2019. Purdy also ranks 16th nationally in goals allowed per game and 34th in save percentage.
 
Can't Stop Scoring: Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Samantha Decondo are leading the team in scoring for a second straight year. Stuhlman leads the team with 47 points while Decondo has 45, ranking second and fourth in the Empire 8. Both players have notched a point in every game this season. Dating back to 2023, Stuhlman has a 26 game point streak while Decondo has tallied a point in 19 straight. Alyssa Drell (Mastic, NY/William Floyd) has currently scored in 10 straight while Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) has a seven game streak going. Maria Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) has been quite consistent as well, totaling at least one point in 11 of 12 games. 
 
Defensive Excellence: Maria Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Aana Blaszka (Hampstead, NH/Pinkerton Academy) have played key roles in giving Utica possession of the ball as they have combined for 60 ground balls on the season. Stuhlman has scooped up a team high 31 and has been a tenacious defender, causing a team high 10 turnovers. Blaska has continued her defensive excellence as well, grabbing 29 ground balls and causing eight turnovers. Both Stuhlman and Blaszka rank amongst the top-10 in the Empire 8 in ground balls with the former sitting fifth in the conference and the latter tied for sixth. As a team, Utica has allowed only 80 goals, the fewest amongst all teams in the conference. 
 
About Fisher: After starting out 0-4 against strong competition, the St. John Fisher Cardinals have won 4 of their last six including a 2-0 start to conference play. They handled Hartwick 19-2 before topping Keuka 20-3. The former Empire 8 Player of the Year, Sydney Carpenter is pacing the team in points thus far with a team high 25 goals and eight assists. The junior is a complete player as she also leads the Cardinals with 26 ground balls, 16 caused turnovers, and 51 draw controls. Mary Fiorentino, a local product from New Hartford, has been another brightspot for the team. She has scored 11 goals while adding 14 assists this far. Kaylee Gadol has served as the team's primary goalie, allowing 8.75 goals per game with a .438 save percentage. 

Up Next: The Pioneers will return home on Wednesday, April 17 to host Hartwick College at 4 p.m.